Speaker support surprise

"maybe"

Possibly, the stiffer sheetrock on the ceiling has helped tighten up the bass...

A few speculations:

1) the popcorn ceiling surface was more diffusive and the sheetrock is more reflective, or as Jan said simply stiffer (did you change the insulation or dead space behind the sheetrock?)

2) despite your best efforts the spikes & chips were not "perfectly" leveled throughout changes in temperature and humidity and introduced micro-rattle to the speakers while the rubber feet being more forgiving of true level may be providing "more" bass (though in that regard seems it would also be a less-defined bass), Tough to keep four spiked feet in the same plane through changes in weather on a hardwood floor,

3) in the same vein as above, and based on what you said about the speakers now rocking if you wiggle them with the rubber feet, maybe each speaker is now resting securely on three legs rather than micro-rattling between four. A three-point connection is better than a four-point if you can make it stand,

4) none of the above apply and the difference is due to the bottom port's distance from the floor as you've suggested. Closer to the floor would imply tighter bass. Same as you get placing rear ports closer to the wall.

I dont know if it is significant but I have Guru speakers and the designer states not to use spikes but to use the rubber foam feet he provides.  Also because of their unusual shape (they are as deep as they are wide and they are unusually wide for standmounts) they are also supplied with a set of plates that rest on top of your chosen stands I also have these slightly leaning backward resting on some copper pipe insulation so that they point very slightly upwards. Resting on their stands my speakers are also slightly wobbly but the Bass already deep is deeper, fuller and rounder without any of the previous boom.

Could be that before with the spiked and levelled speakers bass energy was proportionate to other frequency energy. Using now the short plastic rubbery feet along with closer proximity of port to floor is creating a resonant peaked ridge at the 70 - 80 htz area.

with the spikes on Chips the speakers were rock solid- no wiggle at al.

with the plastic feet there is some wobble but these feet are more "cushiony"

new sheet rock place with new insulation.  Not sure why this would give fuller bass

will give another listen tonight.  Deep down I want to put the spikes on to get that rigidity but I sure had good listening seesion last night. 

Hi David,

I sense that you will need to put the spikes back on just to give yourself peace of mind- it SHOULD sound better. A little tinkering is part of the journey!

ATB,

Mark

David,

Many good comments above.  From your description, the new sheetrock ceiling will be participating in the bass noticeably less than the previous ceiling.  This would surely sound better and truer to the music signal.  There will very likely be a difference in sound between spikes or soft feet under your speakers.  Which will be better?  Only one way to find out.  You have gone to the effort of moving out, replacing ceiling, moving back in...  You know what to do, so don't stop now.  You will learn something, and please share with us.

Charlie

You'll be amazed at the effect that different plaster boards and suspended ceiling tiles can have on the acoustics of a room. If you're previous board was the open cell rubbish from the 1970's that I think it is, I'm not surprised with the difference that you've experienced with a modern hard surfaced board. Is everything back in the same place as before? Could be that you've also hit a sweater spot with positioning? 

FWIW I live in a modern apartment where all internal walls are fairly flimsy (honestly, walls wobble when you shut a door!) and this has caused me enormous problems with lacking bass - seems the walls can sink a lot of that energy. I've ended up with my system in the smallest room, as that's the only room where there's a decent amount of bass!

In the toilet? Surely not. 

Ah yes, the thunder box!

C.

Ah. Poor choice of phrase. I see my mistake now. ;-)

Update- replaced the rubber feet with spikes onto Chips. Still has that punchier bass. One thing I noticed was the Focal's are 5 inches further out in the room (on the short wall). So maybe a bass node thing?  Or maybe new ceiling/insulation is really a factor.... if so nice upgrade but not cheap!  However it makes me realize the potential effect of listening room on the music.    

Verdict- new ceiling cause of improvement.  Now with spikes/Chips back under the Focal's this is clearly better than rubber feet..   best my system has ever sounded.  I'm pulling out different cd's to hear the effect on different music.  It's just what I do when I upgrade a naim box.  Except this was a complete and unexpected surprise. Nice

I thought you were ignoring the room in the elephant.

In France I had my system in a room with spectacular Quercy stone walls and solid floors. Unfortunately, the walls were dry-lined and the room, through this compliance,  lost most of its promised virtues and removed the steady baseline from which sounds could emerge. 

It was like boxing on a skateboard.